Britain's first blind glass artist:
Less than six months after suffering a near fatal attack of meningitis, Julie Coakley has graduated from the University for the Creative Arts at Farnham in Three Dimensional Design (specialising in glass).
Register now for this year's research conference:
This year's Research Conference will take place on Wednesday 3 September 2008 at RIBA in London.The theme is "Positioning the University within an International Research Community".
Anna Fox Exhibition:
Photography lecturer Anna Fox will be holding her first survey show this summer at the Impressions Gallery in Bradford.
Design Show Liverpool:
Two Rochester design students were finalists in the Design Show Liverpool, a flagship event for Liverpool's year as European city of culture. Tiina Hakala's designer stackable chairs came second in the event judged by Wayne Hemingway CBE in June.
Red Square in Canterbury:
Canterbury's architecture students were set a brief by Lee Evans Partnership LLP as part of Architecture 08.
Farnham film crew Slovenia bound:
BA (hons) Digital Screen Arts student Will Cloke-McGregor, is set to film a 12 minute short film about a Slovenian folklore water sprite this summer.
Cartoon Love for Farnham Grads:
Farnham graduates Aaron Wood and Katie Steed met and began dating in 2005. Their new animation company Slurpy Studios have won an ITV competition.
Forthcoming events:
ucreative update
University for the Creative Arts
Our achievement in gaining University Title has been well received by many partners and friends, and we have been receiving letters of congratulations from far afield. We will build upon our success during the next 12 months, holding events with stakeholders and potential partners. Most importantly, we will hold a staff celebration to thank all staff for their contribution to this outstanding success. The event is being planned for 29th October, in London at the Saatchi Gallery during half-term week and transport will be provided for those who require it. We will give you full details as soon as they are finalised.
Our Vision
During May, we held roadshows at all campuses, and I used the opportunity to outline our vision for the future. Now that we have such a distinctive University title as "University for the Creative Arts" we can position ourselves as a real leader in these subjects, growing our position to include aspects of the performing arts as well as exploring new opportunities within art, design, media, communication and architecture. Our new senior organisational structure will enable us to encourage these academic synergies and collaboration between and across the University, and more concentration upon providing excellent customer service. Our commitment to providing a supportive creative community for our students will require more collaborative working between professional and support departments and academic areas as we seek to improve our business processes, particularly those which underpin the student experience.
Our long term plan to create three superb, high calibre University campuses and increase our total numbers to 9,000 students will allow us to extend our influence and impact as well as enhancing the student experience. Our students will need to work in an environment which is accessible, flexible and sustainable as well as being attractive and affordable. We will extend the range of facilities and improve the social and recreational aspects as well as the direct academic experience and support services we provide.
I believe that the long term vision is ambitious and sound, although I realise that achieving the vision will involve change and anxiety for staff, particularly while we consider proposals for withdrawing from the Oakwood campus. The news about our plans for a new campus in Kent has created strong interest from local partners across the county and we will explore all the options for the best possible location.
Investors in People
I am delighted that the University has retained its Investors in People standard following the recent inspection which I reported on in the last ezine. The assessor's report recognised a culture of understanding within the University, with staff having a clear understanding of the University's vision, mission and strategic objectives. The report also found a high level of staff engagement with the University, a strong commitment to learning and development, and strong mechanisms for recognising staff contributions.
I would like to thank everyone involved in the IIP visit and to all staff who's hard work ensured that we retained the standard.
Leadership Conference – Creating our future through organisational development
I would like to remind staff that the Leadership Conference will be taking place on 21 July 2008 at the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea. David Clutterbuck will be giving the Keynote address.
By focusing on leadership and management we are recognising its importance for the University and we will aim to inspire, support and challenge ourselves as we build on our existing strengths and further develop our potential.
I hope that you will be able to join us for the day.
New branding confirmed for UCA
Following on from a period of consultation, sign off from the Executive and confirmation from the Privy Council on our University status and new name, the new brand identity has now been agreed.
Crafts Study Centre awarded £185,000 grant
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced a grant totaling of £185,000 for Farnham's Crafts Study Centre. The grant comes from the fund's Collecting Cultures scheme which is designed to help support acquisitions, curatorial skills, research and increased public involvement.
2008 Honorary Degrees
Paul Watson, John Rocha, Anne Tyrrell, Derek Birdsall, Jake and Dinos Chapman will be honoured at graduation ceremonies this year.
Magdalene Odundo OBE
Magdalene Anyango Namakhiya Odundo, Professor of Ceramics at Farnham has been awarded the OBE for Services to Art in this year's Queen's Honours.
Green Futures
Martin Charter from The Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) has chaired a panel at London Aware 08 - a conference aimed at equipping people with the knowledge they need to live sustainably.
Karen Millen and University College in Gateway to Africa
A group of twenty young people affected by the HIV epidemic in South Africa are now on a unique training course providing them with fashion design skills that will enable them to build a new future for themselves and their families.
Evaluating learning
In the third of a series of features from the Learning and Development Team, ways of evaluating our learning experience are explored.
Students excel at Graduate Fashion Week
Epsom and Rochester fashion students showcased their work at Graduate Fashion Week at London's Earls Court. Several students were short-listed with including a winner in the fashion journalism category.
Rochester puts the Fizz into local skills
Along with two other universities, the University for the Creative Arts at Rochester has launched a programme to invest in local people's creative business skills.
